From second from left in the front row, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Senior Vice President Marianne Thellersen, Danish Ambassador to Korea Thomas Lehmann, KAIST President Shin Sung-chul and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik pose with other participants during an award ceremony for the KAIST-DTU P4G Innovation Sprint contest at KAIST College of Business in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo

By Yi Whan-wooThe crown prince of Denmark congratulated the winners of a contest on sustainable development at KAIST College of Business in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. Crown Prince Frederik presented a certificate to members of the winning team out of six competing teams, each comprised of KAIST, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and other top Danish university students.Titled "KAIST-DTU P4G Innovation Sprint," the three-day contest required the participants to propose solutions for challenges associated with the environment and green energy in business.The contest took place in line with P4G, a network among Korea, Denmark, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico and Vietnam to consolidate partnerships for green growth and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.The contest coincided with the three-day visit of Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary to Korea, who wrapped up their trip and returned home Wednesday.Accompanied by a large business and cultural delegation, the royal couple participated in programs celebrating the 60th anniversary of Korea-Denmark diplomatic relations and eight years of their bilateral green alliance. Sustainability was one of the areas promoted by the delegation, along with healthcare, food and lifestyle."Universities are facilitators of education, research, innovation … I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for KAIST and the DTU for their unique partnership," the crown prince said in his speech.He referred to the contest participants present at the ceremony as "talents and leaders of tomorrow" and said they will "shake the world of the next generation."The ceremony saw 100 guests, including KAIST President Shin Sung-chul and DTU Senior Vice President Marianne Thellersen.Shin underscored his school's partnership with the DTU, pointing out more than 250 students studied at each other's schools since they formed a partnership in 2008."We have a history of collaboration and cooperation, especially in sustainability and green technology. We're making progress on joint research in the fields of bio refinery, green power and system engineering," he said.In his video message, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the younger generations will be more affected by climate change and that the contest is "not just a contest but a case of partnership." The contest was open to undergraduates and upper-level students mainly from KAIST and the DTU.The participants were divided into six groups. They competed under the "Innovation Sprint" method that requires academic knowledge and creativity to tackle problems and help implementing SDGs.They dealt with inquiries from three enterprises ― SK E&S of Korea and Hempel and Velux of Denmark.SK E&S asked how it can transform into "a global leading clean energy solution player." Hempel asked to introduce "circular economy thinking," while Velux asked whether windows can be "a multi-transformational element" for air ventilation and purification for buildings.Meanwhile, the crown prince highlighted his family's special relationship with KAIST. His father-in-law John Donaldson was a professor at KAIST in 2003 when the crown prince sent a letter asking for permission to marry his daughter. The couple married in 2004.The contest was co-hosted by KAIST and DTU and co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Danish Embassy in Korea, Innovation Centre Denmark and Coalition for Our Common Future. The latter two are organizations aimed at nurturing talented and creative young people.